God is not obligated to do anything beyond what He’s already provided for us through the Cross.

“Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:5-7

I believe that God answers every prayer. But it’s crucial for us to remember who we’re talking to in prayer. We are talking to God! The very person responsible for giving and taking away the very breath we have. I think that we as a whole have forgotten who it is we’re seeking the face of. We don’t have life without Him. We’re not giving Him orders and He’s not at all hesitant about the way He answers.

Yet, many times we try to order God to do things in their lives the way we want it and have no desire to do anything God’s way. We give Him this laundry list of things we expect Him to do for us on our terms, and when He doesn’t do them we blame Him for not honoring our shopping list. However, God is not obligated to do anything beyond what He’s already provided for us through the Cross. We are told to come to Him in faith. How many of us actually do that? You see there are only two answers God gives, yes or no, never maybe.

Out of the two answers, “yes” is the most frequent answer you get to prayer. I have never asked for strength and not received it. I have never prayed for wisdom and not received it, but I have often not prayed for wisdom and then regretted the decisions that I made. When I’ve applied James 1:5 “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.”, and recognized my lack of wisdom and asked God to supply, He has delivered!

Most of time, the reason we don’t receive “yes” is because the context of our prayer life. We need to get to a place where we’re no longer asking if God can or will, but thanking Him that He’s already done what we’re asking Him for. It applies to strength, wisdom, healing, deliverance, and certainly more. God isn’t deaf to our sin, but He is deaf to our unbelief. When we approach God without faith James says that we shouldn’t expect to receive anything. The Bible says that God will not bless unbelief. Friends, I’m convinced if we approached God more by thanking Him for what He’s already done, and that He’s already provided whatever it is we’re seeking from Him. We’d see more results from our prayers, because Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things unseen. We’re asking for what we don’t see, but our faith gives us the substance to be able to take God at His Word.

God’s second answer to prayer is “No.” That’s why James 4:2 says, “You do not have because you do not ask.” But the only time you get a “no” is if you pray for stupid stuff or if you pray for good stuff with a timeline. I have found God very unresponsive to my ultimatums. God doesn’t respond to blustering, bluffing, or threats. If we’re praying foolishly, we’ll get a “no.” The other reason we don’t receive what we’re asking for is because we don’t ask. We tell God that He needs to bless us with this, and give us that on our terms. That’s no asking that’s telling. As James says that we have not because we ask not.

The point is who do we think we are to demand anything from God? Yes, we can approach His throne with boldness and confidence, but God’s under no obligation to do anything because we throw tantrums, issue Him ultimatums to meet our timelines, or ask for foolish things like a winning lottery ticket. If I’m praying according to God’s will, entrusting my future in God’s hands, the only thing between me and “yes” is time.

This my Prayer: God thank You for reminding me who I am talking to, that Your ways are right, and that Your plans are always best. Lord teach me to come to You with humility and respect. Teach me to seek Your wisdom in all areas of my life and my prayers. Jesus I thank You for what You provided for me through the Cross. I know that you keep Your promises. Lord I’m resting in You as I wait to see Your answers to my prayers. In Jesus’ name, Amen.